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Saving the market

Re: The case for Kensington, Opinion Feb. 2

Re: , Toronto

The case for Kensington, Opinion Feb. 2

Writer John Semley makes a great case. I am a proud signatory to the “Save the Kensington” Campaign. Looking at the events taking place around us, a lot of times I wonder when we will wake up and smell the roses?

“Old” does not mean that it has no value or is worthless. Many advanced societies are spending millions to preserve old structures, monuments and districts to save the true spirit and the history of a city or nation. In Canada, it seems to be just the opposite. What are we trying to prove and to whom?

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Have we become so greedy that in order to make a buck, we are prepared to destroy the character of our city? Kensington is an inseparable part of the history and character of Toronto and it deserves to be treated that way by the city administrators and the powerful big business of our country.

Haig Misakyan, Toronto

One of my most compelling memories of Kensington Market — or as it was more commonly referred to in certain ethnic communities, the Jewish Market — took place years ago when my father insisted that I join him as interpreter on a buying trip for a Christmas tree for our family restaurant. We are not Christian but the customers welcomed it as almost a multi-denominational gesture in our little Chinese restaurant and my father always created simple but beautiful trees.

Typically we would make our buying trip as near to the 25th as possible to make our best deal but on this occasion our choices were limited to several options beyond our imposed budget, finally in complete frustration my father offered $10 for a $20 tree since we only wanted the top 5 feet of one tree, the equally frustrated seller agreed but refused to throw in the wooden stand.

The point of this anecdote is that my Kensington Market is gone forever and is missed. Saul, who owned Max and Son was a wealthy man who didn’t need to risk his fingers cutting oxtail with his well oiled bandsaw anymore and was ready to retire. Augusta Egg Market was owned by a wealthy business woman who understood that she could earn a superior return on her asset by being a landlord more than selling eggs wholesale and retail. The Blue Banana was created from a failed small condo development.

I look at the larger properties presently housing modest enterprises in Kensington and see the next potential battles between the friends of Kensington who prefer the status quo and perhaps owners who would prefer a stronger return on their investment in the community. I don’t view Loblaws as a great threat to the superior operators in the area but if the condo is successful, the demand for new sites in the vicinity could be.

Some change is necessary and not everything that is old needs to be retained. Old buildings and old ideas do carry best before dates.

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Jerry C. Hom, Toronto

Does Galen Weston Jr. really need another store even if it means destroying a neighbourhood? Talk about being a citizen of this city.

Rita Cecchini, Toronto

John Semley’s column criticizes the protest against an incoming Loblaws in Kensington Market. But he has some of his facts wrong.

Take Sanagan’s Meat Locker. Semley says Peter Sanagan bought out Max and Sons Meat Market. It was Max and Sons’ owner who was looking for a buyer and when Sanagan took over, he kept to the spirit of the area with all the meat cuts the old customers enjoyed. His growth didn’t come until later.

Semley says that his small space was “laying the tracks” for a much bigger space. In fact, the new space had been European Meats for many many years — and Sanagan again has kept to the spirit of Kensington with his products. Yes, he has specialty cuts of meat for demanding customers. He makes his own pates, he has a lunch counter and his meats are local and second to none. He does not exclude customers who used to buy from Max and Son. In fact they know him and know he’ll take care of them.

Growth is inevitable. But transition is important. Sanagan’s Meat Locker is a perfect example of a smooth transition.

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